Live Minnows - Naturally!

There Are Many Different Baitfish But Their All Minners To Me!

When we talk live minnows we're really referring to "baitfish", which
are any small fish upon which larger fish prey and eat. We all tend to
just lump them together as "minnows. Since all larger fish prey upon and
eat baitfish as a large part of their diet it's only natural that we
should consider them as "minnow bait" with which to go after bass. In
fact, live minnows are the number one live bait used by bass anglers.

Which Baitfish Are Best?

When it comes to baitfish what matters to a bass is what the minnow
looks like, smells like and how it swims, the wiggle in its woggle.
Don't all baitfish have these traits? Yes, but some are better as live
minnow bait than others for various reasons.

Hardiness is a major consideration. You want your live minnows to be lively minnows under water! Some are far more durable than others. The following will give you an idea of what to expect.

Very Hardy

Fathead minnow

Madtom

Rosey Red

Hardy

Creek Chub

Bluntnose Minnow

Dace

Tender

Common Shiner

Golden Shiner

Very Tender

Shad

Emerald Shiner

Spottail Shiner

These Two Get My Vote As Best

Though there are a multitude of different baitfish there are but a
few that are considered best as live bait for largemouth and smallmouth
bass. Shiners and creek chubs (creek minnows) top the list.

Shiners have great "flash" to attract bass. These are readily
available at your local bait shop, at least in most of the country but
the far west. They prefer cooler water and won't perform well in high
summer. I've found the best size
to be 3-3 1/2" in length.

The one shown top, above is a Whitetail Shiner. There are also
"Common Shiners", Spottail Shiners", Emerald Shiners" and "Golden
Shiners". The goldens are usually seen as the shiner used in the deep
south, especially Florida.

Creek Chubs, picture above, and what the Bass Bums™ refer
to as creek minnows, are in my opinion the very best baitfish you can
use to catch largemouth and smallmouth bass.

Unfortunately, they are
not readily available in bait shops. Though many years ago there were
individuals that caught and sold creek minnows today this practice has
faded away. So if you want them you must catch them yourself. Not an
unpleasant activity I might add, however.The one above was one of many trapped by me in a small creek that runs through my lot.

Buying Baitfish

So in order to insure you get healthy, lively specimens buying
baitfish requires some attention to detail. Consider the following when
buying your baitfish.

Get what you want. Bait shops don't usually adhere to any
standard terminology relative to what they call the baitfish they sell.
Make sure you're specific when buying live minnows with which to bass
fish. Don't call them minnows or "minners" when telling the bait shop
guy what you want. You'll wind up with "crappie minnows.

Healthy baitfish are a must if you want to catch bass with them. Liveliness
is what attracts bass. A limp minnow hanging from your hook will not
excite a bass. A minnow that is trying urgently to get somewhere safe
will greatly increase your odds of "getting bit".
When buying shiners this particularly important for if they
are not "fresh" and healthy when you buy them they will not do well when
you get to the water and some may even die before getting there.

No red snouts! If they have red snouts they have been in the retailers tank too long. Their going to be weak and you'll get marginal performance from them.

Check out the tank. Look in the tank and
if the minnows are "bunched up" in a corner of the tank the chances are
better they are healthy. If there are numerous individuals or small
groups of minnows meandering around or swimming near
the water's surface it's a sign things are not well with that bunch.
Beware!

You Got Them, Now How Do You Keep Them Healthy?

What you want are "live bait minnows" with the emphasis on "live" or
better said, "liveliness". It doesn't do you much good to buy baitfish
that die quickly or are devoid of that all important "liveliness". Might as well burn those dollars!

What's most important after you've made sure you bought healthy,
lively minnows? Keeping them that way! And to keep them that way means
keeping them cool, uncrowded and oxygenated.

Baitfish Containers

Old Style

This type metal minnow bucket has been around a long time,
probably because they work, at least when given proper attention. They
are a pain in the backside as far as I'm concerned. They must be taken
in and out of the boat when moving from one spot to another. You make
noise when taking them out of the water to retrieve a minnow and when
dropping it back in the water. They also clank against the side of the
boat creating even more noise.

If you forget for any reason to return them to the water for any
extended period, and we've all done that, you will most likely have
fewer live minnows and more dead ones. Or at least you will have greatly
weakened most of the minnows in your minnow bucket.

An ice cooler combined with a small recirculating pump (aerator)
that will run off of a 12-volt battery also works well for transporting
live minnows. A small, complete aeration system, not including a
cooler, can be purchased for between $30.00 to $60.00 depending on
features.

I've successfully used such a system many times in the past but
the problem with such a system is its portability. A cooler sufficient
for 10-12 dozen minnows is of necessity large and the aerator consists
of several parts to keep up with, not to mention hauling around a heavy
12-volt battery.

Baitfish Containers

New Style

The "tower" at right is what I now use to transport and keep my
minnows in after buying them. There are several other brands and styles
on the market and I'm sure they all work equally well. I'm just sold on
the concept. It incorporates an aerator in the container that provides
constant oxygenation to the minnows.

This unit holds six gallons of water and runs on two D-cell
batteries. I've used it for a week without changing batteries. I do
pour out "old" water and replace it with fresh water every 2-3 hours. I
also put in a pinch of a product called "Shad-Keeper" which helps
eliminate ammonia and surface foam.

I put six dozen or two pounds of shiners in this unit with no
concerns. I've even put four small pound and a half largemouth in it to
transport for over three hours from one small lake to another without
any problem for the bass.

This smaller 8 quart "tub" also has an aeration system in it and, as
with the larger model, there are several different brands of equal
quality. It's great for holding three dozen minnows all day and it can
be kept right at you feet. The aeration system keeps the water
oxygenated and fresh. Put in fresh water every couple of hours and your
minnows will stay fresh and lively.

I use the larger one as a holding tank for my live minnows and
refill this smaller one from it. Both units require two D-Cell
batteries which will last for at least 80 hours.

I'm telling you, these will make your life as a live bait fisherman using live minnows much easier!